Waipahu’s Williams takes
first loss with Cubs as
Nationals win 4-2

CHICAGO » At 18 games above .500, the Washington Nationals have already made a statement: They're going to be a major factor all season in the NL East.

"We're in a tough division and a lot of people don't believe we're for real," Jose Guillen said yesterday after homering in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs, Washington's fifth straight win.

"I think people are going to have to start believing. We have good pitching and good players," Guillen added.

Nationals starter Tony Armas, who missed the first five weeks this season with a groin pull, got his first road win as a starter in more than two years, lasting five innings plus and giving up two runs and seven hits.

"I'm just making progress. I'm happy. Every time out there I learn something new," Armas said.

"I just got to the fifth inning and then the relievers did the rest of the job. But I want to start pitching like I can pitch."

Armas (4-4) hadn't won a road start since April 10, 2003 -- at Wrigley Field -- and had been 0-6 in 10 starts since.

"Tony is still trying to get it all together. He was better today and his pitch count wasn't too high," Washington manager Frank Robinson said.

Chad Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 29th save. He's converted 26 straight opportunities.

Waipahu High School graduate Jerome Williams took the loss for the Cubs, his first since being traded to Chicago on May 28.

Williams (1-3), making his third start for the Cubs, lasted seven innings, giving up five hits and four runs.

Chicago's Derrek Lee continued his remarkable first half with three more hits, including his 25th homer, a triple and a single.

Needing a double to hit for the cycle, Lee flied to center in the eighth inning.